Going into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears needed to add depth to the roster.
Three days and eight picks later, it’s safe to say general manager Ryan Poles accomplished that objective.
With one of those eight selections, Poles added a talented wide receiver in Luther Burden III with his first of three picks on Day 2. That addition put the Bears at 10 receivers on the roster.
That’s far too many, and over the next few months, that number will have to shrink as the roster cuts down. Who makes the team and who is likely to be cut?
Before Burden was selected No. 39 overall, Poles signed three receivers in the offseason: Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay, and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Here are the 10 wide receivers currently on the roster. (This does not include UDFAs and players signed for rookie minicamp.)
- DJ Moore
- Rome Odunze
- Luther Burden III
- Olamide Zaccheaus
- Tyler Scott
- Devin Duvernay
- Miles Boykin
- Samori Ture
- John Jackson
- Maurice Alexander
Luther Burden's arrival makes for interesting an interesting Bears' preseason decision
Three spots are taken with Moore, Odunze, and Burden. Then it depends on how many wide receivers the Bears will carry on the 53-man roster. The Bears had six wide receivers make the 53-man roster, but that was with the previous staff. Last season, when Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator in Detroit, only four wide receivers made the initial 53: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Isaiah Williams.
For the Lions’ Week 1 matchup to start the 2024 season, the team elevated wide receiver Tom Kennedy for the game.
Let’s meet in the middle and cap the number of wide receivers to make the Bears’ 53-man roster at five. That means there are only two spots left for seven players.
Of the seven players, it would likely be between Zaccheaus, Scott, and Duvernay competing for those last spots. Zaccheaus signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract and is coming off a career-high year in receptions (45) with 506 receiving yards and three touchdowns with the Commanders last season.
Just based off production, Zaccheaus would be a front runner to fill the fourth spot, but Burden essentially took his role. Although based on Johnson’s recent comments following the draft, there is no depth chart and everyone will have to compete for playing time.
So, that leaves one spot, if it’s indeed five receivers to make the 53-man roster. Scott versus Devernay.
Scott was drafted in the fourth round out of Cincinnati in 2023, and during his second season in the league, he only played 20 offensive snaps and 35 special-teams snaps. It is important to remember that Keenan Allen played a prominent role on the team in 2024, so Scott’s playing time took a dip from his rookie season.
Duvernay only played 190 offensive snaps for the Jaguars last season and had 118 snaps on special teams, but he was a contributor as a return man. Duvernay finished with 19 punt returns for 167 yards and had 14 kick returns for 351 yards. He’s also a former two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro as a returner.
Usually, that final spot at the wide receiver position will come down to whoever has more special teams impact. Duvernay, 27, is a proven return man, and Scott, 23, has just 13 career kick returns in two seasons. Scott looks to be the odd man out right now, but It's April, so nothing is set.
These players will all have to compete to earn their spots and playing time, but given the talent and number of players at the wide receiver position, this group will be one of the more fun ones to watch throughout training camp.